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Observations: Daughter of Massarra Debuts at The Curragh

4.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT
FRIENDLY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was not foaled until May 15th, so improvement can be expected in due time but it is interesting that Aidan O’Brien has opted to go so soon with the 12th progeny out of the speedy Massarra (GB) (Danehill). All of her full-siblings Mars (Ire), Gustav Klimt (Ire), Wonderfully (Ire), Cuff (Ire) and Blissful (Ire) and her half-sister Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) were able to make their mark in black-type company at different levels and this chestnut relative of Invincible Spirit (Ire) needs close watching as she debuts against Moyglare Stud’s A Ma Chere (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), a Dermot Weld-trained daughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

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Serengeti Empress Up For The ‘Challenge,’ Faces Off With Midnight Bisou In Fleur De Lis

Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Serengeti Empress is ready for her showdown versus 2019 Champion Midnight Bisou in Saturday's $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (GII) at Churchill Downs – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Distaff Division” race.

“If you want to talk about a challenge, this is it,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “We face a challenge with champion Midnight Bisou. We have great respect for her but we also have a ton of confidence in our filly. Her preparation has been great for this race and we'll be ready.”

The speedy Serengeti Empress led every step of the way in last year's Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Alternation's 3-year-old campaign included a narrow runner-up effort in the $500,000 Test (GI) and third-place finish in the Longines Distaff. In her 4-year-old campaign, Serengeti Empress was a convincing 6 ¼-length winner of the March 14 Azeri (GII).

The Fleur de Lis field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Go Google Yourself (Brian Hernandez Jr., Paul McGee, 8-1); Another Broad (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 12-1); Chocolate Kisses (Declan Carroll, Mark Casse, 12-1); Serengeti Empress (Joe Talamo, Amoss, 2-1); Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen, 3-5); Red Dane (Corey Lanerie, Charlie LoPresti, 50-1); and Motion Emotion (Julien Leparoux, Richard Baltas, 15-1).

All horses will tote 120 pounds except Midnight Bisou and Serengeti Empress who will carry 124.

The Fleur de Lis – which means “Flower of the Lily” and honors the French symbol that is incorporated into the city of Louisville's Flag – will be run as Race 9 at 5:15 p.m. (all times Eastern). It will be televised live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.

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Tom’s D’Etat ‘Runs Very Well Fresh,’ Installed As Even-Money Morning Line Favorite For Stephen Foster

G M B Racing's 2019 Clark (Grade I) winner Tom's d'Etat was installed as the even-money morning line favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Stephen Foster presented by Coca-Cola (Grade II) – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (GI).

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is the headliner of a stakes quartet on Saturday's 11-race program at Churchill Downs. The day of racing also will feature the $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (GII), $100,000 Regret presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII) and $100,000 Bashford Manor presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII). First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Stephen Foster is slated at 5:47 p.m.

Along with the spectacular action on the racetrack, bettors will have large wagering pools to tackle including a $250,000-guaranteed Late Pick 5 pool. The 50-cent bet will begin in Race 7 (4:12 p.m.) – a 5 ½ furlong turf allowance event. The next four races will be the Bashford Manor, Fleur de Lis, Stephen Foster and Regret, respectively. For free past performances, visit www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.

Tom's d'Etat (17-10-2-1—$1,326,572) has won four of his last five starts including a 3 ¼-length score in last year's $600,000 Clark (GI). The now 7-year-old son of Smart Strike enters Saturday's Stephen Foster following a hard-fought victory in the April 11 $150,000 Oaklawn Mile.

“I'm not worried about he's going to show up in the Foster; he runs very well fresh,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “This race will feed us into the rest of the year, which looks like it's setting up well with the schedules in New York and elsewhere. … This is his home track and has a visual of it in front of his stall, sort of like Blame did.”

Stall is not a stranger to success in the Stephen Foster. He won the race in 2010 with the aforementioned Blame prior to his victory over Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Blame would go on to become the 2010 Champion Older Male.

“We're trying to get (Tom's d'Etat) to the Blame level,” Stall said. “Both of these horses have a ton of class and ability.”

One of the challenges facing handicappers for Saturday's Stephen Foster is the probable pace scenario. The likely frontrunner in the race could be the graded stakes placed Pirate's Punch. Ridden by Mike Smith, Pirate's Punch has secured the early lead in nine of his last 11 races. A horse that could be tracking from just off the early lead could be Allied Racing Stable's multiple Grade II winner By My Standards.

“It's going to be an interesting setup,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “Pirate's Punch looks like he could be the controlling pace of the race. What's interesting is the horse from the rail (Fearless) who has shown speed back in his form in his maiden race and second start. Since then, he's sort of been relegated off the pace.

“(By My Standards) has shown every positive development from his three-year-old season to this year. He's a very talented racehorse and we saw that with his strong campaign last year. He's just bigger and stronger this year.”

The complete field for the Stephen Foster (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Fearless (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 12-1); Pirate's Punch (Mike Smith, Grant Forster, 15-1); Alkhaatam (Declan Cannon, Danny Peitz, 30-1); Multiplier (Tyler Gaffalione, Peter Miller, 10-1); Tom's d'Etat (Mena, Stall, even-money); By My Standards (Gabriel Saez, Calhoun, 5-2); Silver Dust (Beschizza, Calhoun, 10-1); and Owendale (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 4-1).

Both the Stephen Foster and the Fleur de Lis will be broadcast live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.

The Stephen Foster has had a strong influence on the Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors. Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their résumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two runner-ups were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012). Also, Awesome Again (1998) and Blame (2010) completed same-year Foster-Classic doubles. Fort Larned won the Classic in 2012, and won the Foster the following year prior to a fourth-place run in his bid for a second Classic win.

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Bourbon Courage Filly Turns In Fastest Quarter At Thursday’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Under Tack Session

Thursday's second under tack session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale was highlighted by a Bourbon Courage filly, who covered a quarter-mile in :21 1/5 seconds.

The Maryland-bred filly, named Bourbon On Sunday and offered as Hip 286, is out of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Sunday in Malibu. The dam's five foals to race are all winners, including stakes-placed Faze the Nation. Grade 2 winner McCraken can be found on the page of this filly, who is consigned by Nomad Farm Training and Sales, agent.

The second-fastest quarter of the day came from Hip 199, a first-crop Laoban filly, who worked in :21 2/5 seconds.

Bred in New York, the filly is the second foal out of the unraced Successful Appeal mare Right Prevails. The dam is a full sister to Grade 3 winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument. Sequel Bloodstock consigns the filly, as agent.

A trio of fillies tied for the fastest efforts at an eighth of a mile on Thursday:

Hip 261, a first-crop Speightster filly who is the first foal out of the Grade 3-placed Gemologist mare Spirituality. L.G., agent, consigns the filly, whose family includes champion Sacahuista.
Hip 263, a Goldencents filly out of the placed Ghostzapper mare Spring Zapper. Her fourth dam is Grade 1 winner First Approach, and Grade 1 winner Spring Quality is also on the page. Pike Racing consigns the filly, as agent.
Hip 276, a Fed Biz filly who is the first foal out of the winning Ecclesiastic mare Stormin Wendy. Grade 1 winners Ascend and Roadster is in the extended family of the Maryland-bred, who is consigned by Golden Rock, agent.

The final day of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic under-tack show takes place on Friday, beginning at 8 a.m. Eastern. The auction will be held June 29-30, beginning each day at 11 a.m.

To view the full breeze show results, click here.

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